Created by Treasure in 1998, Radiant Silvergun has since been elevated to legendary status for a myriad of reasons. It is a significant title for Treasure in that it was their first arcade game, their first shmup, and remains to be their most cinematically impressive game 7 years later. It turned the heads of nearly every shmup gamer and Saturn enthusiast of the day and received heavy amounts of hype despite being destined to never leave Japan, as the Saturn had been doomed to commercial failure everywhere else by this time. Due mostly to the nearly universal praise by import gamers and gaming publications, Radiant Silvergun currently enjoys a market value of roughly $120-$150 USD, prompting many curious gamers to wonder what exactly all the fuss is about.

True to Treasure form, Radiant Silvergun defies gaming convention by incorporating unique gameplay elements to make it stand apart from the rest of its genre. The weapon system consists of three base weapons (a forward shot, a spread shot, and a homing shot) that can be combined for a total of 7 unique weapons. Weapons level-up in RPG fashion as you use them, increasing their strength as the stages progress.